Kaarina city orders owners to demolish unauthorized saunas on contaminated waterfront plots

The city of Kaarina in southwestern Finland has announced it will require property owners to remove saunas and other unauthorized structures built on contaminated waterfront plots in the Harvaluoto area, Finnish broadcaster Yle reports.

The decision follows a March ruling by the Administrative Court upholding the city’s refusal to grant a retrospective exemption permit for a sauna on one of the plots. According to Markku Aro, Kaarina’s chief building inspector, the court’s decision will serve as precedent for all 30 plots sold in the area, where construction is prohibited due to soil contamination from a former sawmill.

Owners had erected various structures—including saunas, a grill hut, and a boat shed—despite the lack of building rights. The city had delayed enforcement pending the court’s decision, but Aro confirmed that demolition orders will now proceed once the ruling becomes legally binding.

Docks built on the plots will be evaluated separately. While they also require permits, Aro noted that each application will be reviewed individually. “We’ve received one dock permit application so far,” he said. “We’ll process it and then assess broader implications.”

The Harvaluoto plots, marketed as waterfront properties, were sold despite soil contamination from toxic wood-preservation chemicals used at the former sawmill. Some plots lack direct shoreline access, instead bordering exposed seabed.

A 2024 Yle investigation revealed that buyers were restricted from even cutting trees on the land due to contamination risks.